- Health CS Aden Duale wrote to KMPDU's Dennis Miskellah on October 19, 2026, appointing him to the National Ebola Disease Taskforce
- The taskforce was established after Kenya confirmed its first imported Ebola case on October 6, 2026
- Taskforce members are required to maintain strict confidentiality, with all public communication channelled through the Ministry of Health
Amos Khaemba is a Current Affairs Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering general news. Khaemba has over four years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2022.
Nairobi - Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appointed Dennis Miskellah, Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), to the National Ebola Disease (Bundibugyo Virus Disease) Taskforce.
Source: Facebook
The appointment was communicated through an official letter dated October 19, 2026.
The letter, referenced MOH/CS/073/2025 and addressed to Dr. Miskellah at KMPDU's Nairobi offices, formally notified him of his inclusion in the government body assembled to oversee Kenya's response to the Ebola threat.
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Kenya's first imported Ebola case
The taskforce was constituted following Kenya's confirmation of its first imported Ebola case on October 6, 2026, a development that prompted the Ministry of Health to mobilise a structured response framework.
The body is chaired by the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, and co-chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors.
Dr. Miskellah's appointment places him among the specialists tasked with guiding Kenya's preparedness and containment efforts at a critical moment in the country's public health calendar.
Taskforce member responsibilities
According to the appointment letter, members of the taskforce are expected to attend meetings either in person or virtually, and to provide strategic advice on outbreak preparedness and response measures.
They are also required to support coordination, communication, and resource mobilisation efforts, as well as assist in implementing decisions and action points agreed upon by the taskforce.
Members may additionally be assigned specific duties by the chairperson as circumstances demand.
The letter included a strict confidentiality clause, specifying that all taskforce deliberations, including information relating to patient details, contacts, and budget allocations, must remain confidential.
Members are prohibited from making independent public statements on taskforce matters, with all official communication to be released exclusively through authorised Ministry of Health channels.
Rapid rise in confirmed Ebola cases in Kenya
Kenya's confirmed Ebola infections climbed to eight after health authorities announced one more positive case on Sunday, October 18, 2026, as the government moves to contain a cluster that has predominantly struck healthcare workers and individuals with close contact to the outbreak's first fatality.
Director-General Health Patrick Amoth disclosed the development during an interview with a local television station, stating that 38 people had been tested that day, with one returning a positive result.
Sunday's announcement came less than 24 hours after the Ministry of Health confirmed four new Ebola cases on Saturday, October 17, which had already raised the national tally to seven.
Source: TUKO.co.ke